Brian Vickers Credit: Autostock

In Hendrick, Vickers lost close friend, advisor

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Eleven men walked silently into the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield media center Friday to talk about the Hendrick Motorsports tragedy last weekend in southern Virginia.

Only one wore a hat. But it was hardly a fashion statement. As the NASCAR community mourns the loss of 10 people killed in a place crash, Brian Vickers is mourning the loss of his best friend.

Vickers was among the Hendrick drivers and crew chiefs to address the media at Atlanta Friday. Credit: Autostock

Again.

Four years ago, Vickers lost boyhood friend Adam Petty to a crash in New Hampshire.

Vickers slowly recovered, becoming an emerging superstar in the sport by winning after joining Hendrick Motorsports. The guy behind Vickers' ascension to the team was Ricky Hendrick, who pushed his dad to hire Vickers.

Vickers and Ricky Hendrick became close friends, with Vickers taking up residence in Hendrick's home most of last year during the run to the Busch Series championship.

No one was happier for Vickers than Hendrick. And no one wanted to deliver the title for Hendrick more than Vickers.

Vickers chose to only make a brief statement Friday, spending the rest of Friday's half-hour "remembrance" session with the media with his head down, his shoulders slumped and his eyes holding back tears.

His black GMAC hat helped hide most of his face, which was red and swollen with emotion.

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"I want to say that last Sunday was a sad day, was a sad day for a lot of people," Vickers said to open the remembrance. "Obviously I lost a dear friend. They will all be deeply missed for a long time to come until we all get a chance to see 'em again."

With that, Vickers was done. But he remained on the dais for the remainder of the question-and-answer session, listening to each question and answer and showing brief flashes of emotion when something struck him.

Vickers was as close to Hendrick as a brother. Vickers knew nothing of the plane crash until after the race, when NASCAR officials passed along the news.

Hendrick was Vickers' spotter, meaning Vickers spent the entire race at Martinsville Speedway with a backup. Vickers was only told Hendrick was running late and would be on his way to the spotters' stand as soon as he got to the track.

Brian Vickers and Ricky Hendrick toast Vickers' Busch Series title at last year's awards ceremony. Credit: Autostock

But he never made it.

Earlier this week, Vickers went to visit Rick and Linda Hendrick. The Hendrick family has suffered an unimaginable tragedy, but when Vickers and Rick began swapping stories about Ricky, the two were able to laugh.

But there were no smiles from Vickers Friday, only sadness. He nodded when Robbie Loomis recounted the story Rick's daughter, Lynn, told during the memorial service for Ricky, John, Kimberly and Jennifer Hendrick.

Later, Jeff Gordon was asked about his favorite memory of Ricky Hendrick, but when Gordon decided to keep his thoughts private, Vickers began sobbing.

Finally, Vickers had to bite his lip and wipe away a tear when Loomis remembered dealing with Adam Petty's death, saying people need to "take time to think about those people you love, how you appreciate them and thank them while you can."

You can bet Vickers has done a lot of that this week.

Again.